Cap for spray dispenser, or the like



Oct. 16, 1962 G. w. HIBBS ETAL 3,058,626

CAP FOR SPRAY DISPENSER, OR THE LIKE Filed June 22, 1959 GEORGE W. 11/885 8 KENNETH GLENN INVENTORS.

HERZIG a JESSUP,

A TTORNE K5.

Azhm. 44

United States Patent Oli ice 3,658,526 Patented Oct. 16, 1962 3 053 626 CAP FOR SPRAY DlSlilNSER, on THE LIKE George W. Hihbs, 125 Ximeno, Apt. 5, Long Beach, galilg, and Kenneth Glenn, 3224 Stevely, Long Beach 8,

Filed June 22, 1959, Ser. No. 822,021 3 Claims. (Cl. 222-182) This invention relates to a cap for a spray dispenser, or the like, and more particularly, to a cap which is detachably securable to a dispenser having a cylindrical body and a valve element extending outwardly thereof for manual actuation to release fluid or gas under pressure contained therein.

This invention provides for a cap, for a dispenser of the character described, which includes a body of pliant or rigid resilient material having an annular skirt engagea'ble with a rim of a dispenser body, snap-acting securement means for retaining the cap on the dispenser body and an enclosed top. The top is provided with a finger-indexing configuration, whereby an actuating finger of the users hand is automatically positioned on the cap for releasing the fluid or gas within the dispensercontainer, by pressing, while the dispenser itself is comfortably gripped by the remaining fingers and thumb of the users hand. In one form, a pliable, resilient top of the cap is depressible by the finger indexed thereon to transmit the pressure to a spray-directing member associated with the under side of the cap to actuate the valve element of the dispenser and thereby release the fluid or gas under pressure, and direct the spray transversely of the container and through an aperture provided in the cap, the spray being directed substantially in the direction indicated by the tip of the finger. In another embodiment, the spray-directing member, associated with the valve element, extends through a second aperture of the top of the cap body, for contact with the tip of the finger when the finger is indexed by the sloping walls of the top, for actuation of the valve element by direct contact of the finger with the top of the spray-directing member, whereby the spray is directed outwardly of the first aperture. The axis of the first aperture is substantially normal to the axis of the annular skirt and the dispenser and parallel to the direction of the actuating finger. The latter embodiment most practically is comprised of a relatively rigid material, such as aluminum or the like, whereas the former embodiment preferably comprise a material which is relatively resilient and pliant, such as plastics, rubber, neoprene, or the like. In both embodiments the valve element of the dispenser is protected from inadvertent actuation, but is actuatable without necessitating removal of the cap.

An object of this invention is to provide a new and improved cap for a dispenser charged with a fluid or vapor under pressure in which a top wall of the cap is provided with a unique configuration whereby a finger of the user is automatically indexed into a position for op- -erating the dispenser to release the fluid therefrom while the dispenser is supportable by the remaining fingers and thumb of the users hand.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved cap for a dispenser which is easily and readily securable to the dispenser for use therewith and is removable therefrom when the contents t ereof are exhausted, whereby the cap may be removed and rc-used with a new dispenser.

A further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved cap which provides means for actuating a valve element of the dispenser without necessitating re- 'moval of the cap from the dispenser.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved cap for a dispenser which is economical to manufacture and capable of mass production.

These and other objects of this invention will be more apparent from the following drawings, detailed description and, appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view, in elevation, of a cap designed and constructed in accordance with this invention, the cap being illustrated as secured on a dispenser;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged, foreshortened, vertical cross-sectional view as taken substantially along a line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary side view, as viewed from the front of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a bottom view, in elevation, as viewed from the underside of the cap illustrated in FIGURES 1-3;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged perspective view, in elevation, of a spray-directing member thereof; and

FIGURE 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view, similar to FIGURE 2, illustrating another embodiment of the invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown by way of illustration, but not of limitation, a cap for a dispenser, or the like, generally designated by the numeral 10, designed and constructed in accordance with this invention and described herein in relation to a dispenser, generally designated by the numeral 11, but not to be limited to use therewith.

The dispenser 11 is illustrated herein for the purpose of disclosing more fully the invention of the cap 10, and does not form a part of the invention, per se. The dispenser comprises a container 12 having a cylindrical wall 13 closed at its upper end by a top member 14. The top member 14 is secured, as by an annular flange 16 thereof, to the open end of the cylindrical wall 13 thereby forming an annular rim 17. The bottom end 18 of the'cylindrical wall 13 is closed by a bottom wall 19 which is not pertinent to this invention, except to illustrate that the container 12 is capable of holding fluid or vapor under Pressure until the fluid is released by manual manipulation of a tubular valve element 21 extending outwardly of the top member 14. The valve element is normally engaged as by a finger of the users hand to operate a valve (not shown) within the container 12 whereby the fluid or vapor is released from the container 12 through the element 21.

'As illustrated herein, dispensers 11 of this type normally are provided with an upper annular rim or bead 22 on the top 14 and spaced from the rim 17 for telescoping engagement with a removable cap (not shown) by which the top 14 may be covered by the cap to cover and protect the valve element 21 when not in use.

This invention eliminates the need for a cap which must be removed for access to the valve element 21. The invention provides, instead, for a cap Ill which covers and protects the valve element against inadvertent actuation yet provides means by which the valve element 21 may be actuated to release the fluid or gas from the container 12 without removal of the cap Iii from the dispenser 11.

The cap 10, in the embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 1-4, is formed by casting, molding, or otherwise forming arelatively' pliant, resilient material, such as plastics or the like, to include an annular skirt 23, an open bottom 24 and a finger-indexing top 26. The annular skirt 23 includes a rim-engaging portion 27 adjacent the open end 24- having an internal or optionally, an external, telescoping engagement with the rim 17 of the dispenser 11 for firmly seating the cap 10 on top of the dispenser container 12 and a snap-acting securing means 28. The securing meansZS comprises a plurality of radial webs 29 having detents 31 for engagement with the upper rim 22 of the container 11, whereby, as the cap is seated on the dispenser 11, by telescoping the portion 27 with the rim 17, the webs 29 are snapped over the rim 22 to engage the rim 22 within the detents 31 to resist removal of the cap it) from the dispenser 11. In this manner, the cap 19 is removable after the dispenser 11 has been exhausted of fluid or vapor, for use on a new dispenser like 11.

The top 26 is substantially saddle-shaped in configuration and includes a central depression 32 and opposed ridges 33 on each side of the depression 32 thereby forming a transverse valley having sloping surfaces between the ridges 33 which serve to bias or index a finger of the user, indicated in broken lines 34, to automatically position the finger 34 for actuation of the dispenser 11, as will be hereafter described, whereby the fluid or vapor within the dispenser 11 may be released from the container 12 and discharged outwardly of the cap 10, as through an aperture 36 formed in the top wall 26.

A spray-directing member 37 is detachably fitted over the valve element 21 to direct the spray discharge from the valve element 21 through the opening 3 6. For this purpose the member 37 is provided with an axial passage 38 and a transverse passage 39, the transverse passage 39 being in communication between the axial passage 38 connected to the valve element 21 and the aperture 36 of a top wall 26. The discharge of the container 12 is directed along the axial passage 38 and transversely therefrom through the passage 39 which is positioned in alignment with the aperture 36. T o insure alignment of the passage 39 with the aperture 36, the member 37 is keyed to the top 26 by a depending web 41 integral with or secured to the underside surface 42 of the cover 26 and having a sliding engagement within an axial external groove 43 formed on the outer surface of the member 37.

As best seen in FIGURE 2, the top wall 26 of the cap 10, particularly in the region of the valley 32, is substantially thinner in cross-section than the remaining portions of the cap 10, including the annular skirt 23, whereby the valley portion 32 is depressible and deformable in response to downward pressure of the finger 34. The downward pressure is transmitted to the member 37 and thereby to the valve element 21 of the dispenser 11 to actuate the valve element 21 and release the fluid under pressure from the container 12. The material of the cap 10, being resilient, causes the depressed valley portion 32 to resume its original configuration, when released by the finger 34, thereby permitting the valve element 21 to return to a normal position to shut oif the emission of the contents from the container 12 in a normal manner. The details of the valve controlled by the valve element 21 are omitted as not being a part of the invention, such valve being normally biased to close when released.

The sliding engagement of the web 41 in the groove 43 keys the member 37 into a position to align the passages 36 and 39 and is of such length to retain the web 41 in constant engagement with the groove 43 during operation of the valve 21. An enlarged passage 44, communicating with the axial passage 38, has a snug fit with the outwardly extending valve element 21 whereby fluid under pressure is relieved through the passages 3839 but is loose enough whereby the member 37 may be detached from the valve element 21 when the container 12 is exhausted of fluid under pressure. The cap 10, with its member 37, may be removed and replaced on a new dispenser 11 for use therewith.

The ridges 33 and the sloping walls, serving to index a finger like 34 into its position aligned in the valley 32 for actuation of the member 37 and thereby the valve 21, further serves to protect the valley portion 32 against inadvertent actuation if dropped, tipped or otherwise accidentally encountered.

As will be now better understood by the foregoing description, the cap 10 is easily and readily mounted on a dispenser 11 for use therewith, whereby the cap 10 has an appearance of being integral with the dispenser, but yet being removable therefrom for use with another dispenser like 11 when the dispenser is exhausted of fluid pressure contained therein. The cap 10 and the dispenser 11 may be comfortably gripped by the thumb and fingers of a hand While one of the fingers, such as the index finger 34, illustrated in FIGURE 1, is indexed into a valley portion 32 of the top of the cap 10 into a position to register with a thinned portion of the cap whereby the valley may be manually depressed to actuate the valve element 21 of the container 11 to release the fluid under pressure from the container 12 of the dispenser. The dis charge is directed into a continuous angularly disposed passage 38--39 of a fluid-directing member secured to the underside of the cap 10 and outwardly of the cap 10 as through an aligned aperture 36 of the cap 10. Release of the finger like 34 permits the valve element 21 thereof, to shut off the ejection of the contents.

Referring more particularly to FIGURE 6, another embodiment of this invention is illustrated and described in which like parts are referred to by like numbers. In the instant embodiment, a cap 10' comprises a body having a open end 27 of an annular skirt 23' telescoped with the rim portion 17 of the dispenser 11. The skirt 23 is enclosed by a top wall 26 having a transverse aperture 46 extending through the top wall 26' and aligned with a member 37 similar to the member 37. A transverse aperture 36' extends through a vertical portion 35' of the wall 26' through which contents of the dispenser 11 is directed by the member 37 In the instant embodiment, it is contemplated to use a relatively rigid material, such as aluminum or the like, for the cap 10. The member 37 is actuated by direct contact of a finger like 34. For this purpose the member 37 includes a reduced portion 47 extending upwardly through the aperture 46 for contact with the finger where- 'by downward pressure of the finger like 341 is transmitted directly to the member 37 through the opening 46 to actuate the valve element 21 of the dispenser 11. The member 37 includes an angularly disposed passage 38, 39' whereby contents of the dispenser is directed through the passage 39', aligned with the aperture 36', and outwardly of the cap 10'. To align the passage 39 with the aperture 36', the member 37 is keyed to the cap 10' by a web 41, slidingly engaging a groove 43, similarly to the first embodiment.

In all other respects the cap 10 is similar in construction to the cap 10 of the first embodiment whereby the cap is secured to the dispenser 11 in a manner previously described wherein the portion 27' adjacent the open end of the cap 10 is in telescoping engagement with the rim 17 of the dispenser 11 and webs 29' include detent portions 31' engaged with the upper rim 22 of the dispenser 11 to removably retain the cap 10' on the dispenser 11. The essential difference between the two embodiments is that the first embodiment can be actuated by depressing the valley portion of the top 26 to actuate, through the member 37, the valve element 21 to release the fluid under pressure from the container 12, whereas in the second embodiment, the member 37', similar in other respects to the member 37, is directly actuatable by the finger 34 indexed within the valley 32 to press on the portion 47 and actuate the valve element 21. Both embodiments include means whereby the valve element 21 may be actuated without necessitating removal of the cap (10 or 10') and protect the valve element 21 from dirt, dust or accidental discharge. After the fluid under pressure has been exhausted from the container 12, the cap 10, or 10', may be detached from the dispenser 11 and replaced on a fresh dispenser 11.

While we have herein shown and described our invention in what we have conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of our invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and methods.

In the claims:

1. A cap for a dispenser having an outwardly extending valve element comprising: a body of pliant, resilient material; said body having an annular skirt portion, an enclosed top in the form of an inverted cup having a transverse V-shaped depression in the upper surface thereof forming a finger indexing channel and an open bottom; there being a laterally directed dispensing aperture in the bottom of said channel, means on said skirt portion adjacent said open bottom for detachably securing said body to the dispenser; and a spray-directing member carried on the underside of said top, having a laterally directed aperture and adapted to detachably fit over the valve element of the dispenser, said two apertures being in registry for directing fluid under pressure from said dispenser through said registering apertures and along the portion of said bottom of said channel located downstream of said apertures, said member being responsive to manually imparted pressure applied to said top for actuating said valve element to release fluid from said dispenser through said apertures.

2. A cap, as defined in claim 1, wherein said fingerindexing channel comprises a pair of opposed ridges and a valley therebetween, and sloping Walls connecting said valley and said ridges.

3. A cap, -as defined in claim 2, wherein said portion of the top having the channel is deformable and depressible.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,658,714 Fooshie Nov. 10, ,1953 2,707,968 Etford May 10, 1955 2,750,081 Campbell June 12, 1956 2,753,214 Abplanalp July 3, 1956 2,761,594 Stroh Sept. 4, 1956 2,8 l}l,289 Davis et al. Oct. 29, 1957 2,819,116 Abplanalp Jan. 7, 1958 2,835,418 Manetti May 20, 1958 2,894.660 Gordon July 14-, 1959 2,998,165 De Elorza Aug. 29, 196 1 

